From derelict to dynamic: revitalization and adaptive reuse of a railway heritage site in Gaziantep, Türkiye

Purpose The adaptive reuse of disused railway complexes has, in recent years, become a key component of urban regeneration policies in Türkiye, as in many countries worldwide. This study examines the transformation process of the railway complex located in Gaziantep, southeastern Türkiye, and aims to evaluate the impacts of this intervention in terms sustainability, spatial continuity and the use of public space. Design/methodology/approach The relationship between the spatial decisions taken during the transformation process and the site's historical identity, spatial continuity and principles of sustainable urban development was assessed. For this purpose, original conditions of the buildings within the complex were documented using institutional archives, their current uses were analyzed through a case study approach and the relationship of the new station building to the architectural context in terms of historical and urban identity was discussed. Findings The adaptive reuse of the disused railway complex through its transformation into an urban park has contributed to the revitalization of the area by reintroducing it into urban life and ensuring the continued use of a substantial proportion of the existing building stock. However, the demolition of certain heritage buildings due to their failure to be preserved, the assignment of functions with limited cultural and social value to the adaptively reused buildings and the construction of a new station building incompatible with the existing urban fabric have adversely affected the preservation of spatial continuity and urban memory. In this context, the findings indicate that the integrated consideration of sustainability, spatial continuity and the use of public space constitutes one of the fundamental components of the successful transformation of railway complexes. Originality/value The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the transformation of the Gaziantep railway complex by examining sustainability, spatial continuity and the use of public space within a single analytical framework. The findings offer practical recommendations that may contribute to future railway heritage transformation projects.